Malaysia's premier international race driver Alex Yoong has been selected by Australian V8 Supercar organiser, AVESCO, as one of the two main series drivers to promote the series in an official launch of their 2005 V8 Supercar race. The launch is scheduled for the 19th July 2004 at the Shanghai International Circuit.
Mark Skaife, the Australian V8 Supercar star who drives for the Holden Racing Team is the other driver to join the official launch.
Yoong, who drove for the Minardi F1 team in 2001 and 2002, was recently signed up by Wright Patton Shakespeare (WRT) Racing Team as their driver for the Sandown and Bathurst enduros this year to pilot one of their two WPS Ford BA Falcons.
Multi-Millionaire Craig Gore formed WPS Racing this year and it is his dedication to success and winning that first attracted Alex to the team andled the team to search for talented drivers. The team is fully funded by his business Wright Patton Shakespeare Financial Services and together with business partner John Atkinson he is determined to get to the top of Australian Motorsport.
"In testing with us Alex showed every aspect of what WPS stands for, performance, professionalism and a focus on delivering results. He gelledwell with the team and I am sure that he will repay the faith with great results in his time with us." said Gore.
The Australian V8 Supercar Championship is contested over 13 rounds in all states of Australia and also in New Zealand. In 2005 the series will also be racing in Shanghai China with the possibility of other venues in the region obtaining rights to a race.
AVESCO chairman Tony Cochrane feels that having Alex as one of the leading drivers will increase the awareness of the world's best touring car category throughout Asia.
Already the V8 Supercar Championship Series is beamed into 70 countries and 500 million homes throughout the world. A significant part of that audience is in China through television partner CCTV.
"Our global reach is significant and growing every year," Mr Cochrane said.
"We know Asia represents a key part of our market and audience which is why we are about to compete in Shanghai. Having Alex as part of our championship obviously broadens our appeal in the region, not to mention the fact he is an extremely gifted driver in his own right.
"Alex has a very solid platform in being the premier driver in South East Asia and the best people deserve to be in the best series. It would be great to one day see Alex at the top end of our championship ladder."
Alex's duties start immediately, heading off to Shanghai to be a drivers representative at the ceremonial signing and launch of the Shanghai Round of the 2005 Championship on July 19, 2004. He will then test again before racing at the Sandown 500 on the 12th of September and the Bathurst 1000 on the 10th of October.
